Locations
Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4
Description
A paedophile has been jailed for more than nine years for multiple child sex offences.
James Thompson, from Reigate Road in Dorking, was jailed for nine years and nine months at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday (July 23).
The 53-year-old had pleaded guilty in March to 20 charges of sexual offences against children, as well as numerous indecent image offences.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Chan said: Thompsons young victims have shown such bravery throughout this process. This case could not have been successful without their courage in giving evidence.
"Thanks to the support that the victims and their parents have given, this investigation has resulted in putting a dangerous sexual predator, who targeted young children, behind bars.
This was a lengthy and complex investigation which involved use of digital forensic techniques on a large number of devices found in Thompsons possession. I would like to thank colleagues from all involved departments for their hard work in ensuring he has been brought to justice for his heinous crimes.
He added: Surrey Police is committed to fully investigating all offences of this nature and I hope that this case will encourage anyone else who has been abused in this way to come forward in the knowledge that they will be believed.
A police statement, released on Friday (July 24), says his offending was uncovered when the father of one of the victims reported to police that his daughter had been sexually assaulted by Thompson in July 2018.
An investigation was launched and a further two victims were identified.
During the course of the investigation, police say they seized more than 30 devices, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops from Thompson.
Further examination of the devices revealed that he had downloaded more than 670 indecent images of children.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children released a statement following Thompson's sentencing. It says: The charges brought against Thompson are extremely disturbing and it is now vital that the survivors of his abuse receive support to help them move forward with their lives.
We want anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to be able to speak out and seek support."
The charges against Thompson include:
- Two counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching;
- Three counts of cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetrative);
- Five counts of cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (penetrative);
- Two counts of cause a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity;
- One count of engage in sexual communication with a child;
- One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category A, 125 images);
- One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category B, 163 images);
- One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category C, 168 images);
- One count of possessing a prohibited image of a child (150 images);
- One count of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with a dead or alive animal (2 images);
- One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child (Category A, 5 images);
- One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child (Category C, 4 images)